Caribou surveys to take place in Middle Ridge area

Research team helicopter pilots look on as a caribou trots in front of them. — Telegram file photo

As part of the ongoing management efforts of caribou in the province, the Department of Environment and Conservation is advising the public that it will be conducting a mark-resight population census of the Middle Ridge caribou herd in the eastern and central portions of the island, beginning early next week and ending later in March.

The department said in a news release, as part of a mark-resight census, a number of caribou will be marked using a highly visible red paint. Once a number of animals in the herd have been marked, they will be counted and the relative ratio of marked animals versus unmarked animals will assist in establishing the total population estimate for the herd.

he release says the marking of the caribou and the paint itself poses no harm to the animals. As the marked caribou lose their winter coat this spring, the red marking will fall off.

The public is also advised that low-level flying aircraft will be used in the area to conduct much of this work.